Religion: Wheels

The internal-combustion engine has done its bit for God as well as
mammon. In 1870, with only 26 million people, Italy had 150,000
priests; today there are more than 47 million Italians, but only 92,000
priests. Even so, more people were baptized in 1955; more went to
Communion this Easter than ever in history. One reason : motor
scooters.

Priests in Italy, according to a Vatican report, currently own 30,850
motor scooters, and in terms of sacraments and good works, the average
priest's efficiency has climbed to about 3,000% over that of his
road-trudging 19th century predecessor. Another straw in this...